“We pulled her out [of private health care] and basically looked after her ourselves.

"Had it not been for the fact my wife is an A&E doctor I’m not sure what would have happened. She was getting close to organ failure.”

Maddy has since made a full recovery.

The harrowing episode has seen Austin become a passionate advocate for better mental health services.

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Austin has become a passionate advocate for better mental health services Common mental health disorders Wed, November 2, 2016

Common mental health disorders from anxiety and depression to post-traumatic stress disorder and phobias.

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Stress – Feeling under mental or emotional pressure can lead to sleeping problems, a loss of appetite or difficulty concentrating

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Maddy is now training for April’s London Marathon

He added: “We are heading towards an epidemic in mental health and there are not the resources there to deal with it.”

After he left ITN last year Maddy showed her gratitude for her father’s support, saying on Twitter: “Proud of you dad and everything you’ve achieved. I look up to you so much and always will. You will always be my hero.”

She has also written candidly about her experience revealing: “I’ve reached a point in my life where I’m learning to accept that not everyone will understand how I’ve felt and how things have affected me.

"No, I may never be able to talk completely openly about my life without a huge amount of discomfort, and maybe I will always have that lingering fear of falling in the back of my mind.

"But there is no reason why I should let that stop me from feeling enjoyment, happiness, and life.”

She is now training for April’s London Marathon where she will be running in support of the Duchess of Cambridge’s mental health charity Place2Be.